Winter Haven, Fl.—The Mercyhurst Softball team opened their week of action at The Spring Games with a sweep against The College of Saint Rose and St. Cloud State University Sunday afternoon at the Diamondplex in Winter Haven, Florida.

Against Saint Rose (W, 3-1)

The Lakers rode 11 hits and a three-run fifth inning to victory in their opener against The College of Saint Rose.

The Golden Knights played some small ball to open the scoring in the top of the first as Ciana Phillips led off with a double and was moved around the diamond by a sacrifice bunt from Morgan Tyrrell and sac fly from Madison Chandler.

Mikaela Schramski allowed just one other hit – a single in the second inning – in her complete-game win, improving to 3-0. The sophomore was nearly perfect from the third inning on, yielding a lone walk in the top of the seventh inning.

The Lakers had at least one hit in every inning, but could only score in the fifth frame. Madison Fry, Brianne Egelston and Cheyenne Hindman singled to load the bases with one out. Allison Dejidas then singled to move everyone up a station and tie the game.

Later in the inning, Marisa Cartellone singled to center field with two outs to drive in Hindman and Egelston. Nobody would score again and the Lakers took the win.

Against St. Cloud State (W, 6-5)

The Lakers held off a late comeback attempt from the Huskies as they held on for a 6-5 win in game two.

Mercyhurst started the scoring this time, with Fry and Egelston starting the game with singles. Hindman allowed them both to tag up when she flied out to center, and Dejidas took one for the team to load the bases with one out after getting hit by a pitch.

Sarah Koscho singled to deep right field to drive in a pair, and Anna O'Geen singled ina  run later in the inning to give Mercyhurst an early 3-0 lead. St. Cloud struck for one in the second inning, but Chloe McQuestion singled in two more runs as the Laker lead grew to 5-1.

Mercyhurst appeared in control of the game as they added another run in the fourth as well. Egelston led off with a single, tagged up to second when Hindman flew out to left, stole third base and scored on a base hit by Cartellone.

Mercyhurst starting pitcher Morgan Hilty took a four-run lead into the sixth inning after allowing two runs (one earned), striking out four and allowing five hits. She got the first out in the sixth, but a single and home run followed to cut the lead to just two.

Hilty induced a grounder for the second out, but was relieved by Kaitlin Hoffner after allowing another base hit. Hoffner gave up an RBI-double to the first batter she faced, but escaped the inning after inducing a ground ball for the third out.

Hoffner would earn her second save of the season with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, striking out the last two batters of the game.

Up Next

The Lakers continue their spring break action with a pair of games against Cedarville University at 9 a.m. and West Virginia Wesleyan College at 11:15 a.m.